This is one that I have made my own over the years but it comes from the days I was a road warrior. I was teaching in Dallas (or was it Houston? I can’t remember.) One of my fellow instructor-buddies was based there and offered to fix me a home-cooked dinner. Since eating in restaurants was 90% of my daily intake Monday thru Friday, I was only too happy to accept his offer.

He had the tiniest apartment. I remember it because I remember wondering if I would be happy if I were on my own and had a tiny little apartment like that. I loved it, though. His decorating was serene and simple. It made you feel calm and peaceful. Funny that I remember that even though it has been, oh, I don’t know, fifteen years?

Anyway, he whipped up this awesome pasta salad for our dinner. And I was in heaven. Most pasta salads I’d had prior to that were typical Southern, mayonnaise-laden affairs which I could barely stomach. This was light, cool, and fresh.

I later found out that James had invented the recipe on his own. It made it all that more special to me.

I’ve since altered it a bit to suit our tastes, but the essence of the salad is still all James’ original dish.